Every New Year, Jeremy Evans made a promise to himself. This would be the year the Los Angeles freelance photographer and cinematographer would embark on the trip of a lifetime: a solo, 215-mile trek along the John Muir Trail in California's Sierra Nevada. But each passing year the journey remained on his bucket list. Finally, Evans made the personal and financial choices needed to set aside three weeks to hike the trail that starts in Yosemite National Park and winds through Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park before ending at Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the Lower 48 states. Sure, it put a dent in his wallet. (As luck would have it, a slew of job offers came in for the very dates Evans planned his backpacking adventure.) But Evans says that's just a reminder that he accomplished a lifelong goal on his fall journey. Now he has more than 5,000 images to show for his efforts, plus several time-lapse videos you can watch at his website, http://www.evansdp.com. We hope his images inspire you to make 2013 the year in which you embark on the trip of a lifetime.

Lifelong friends Jeff Winter and Los Angeles Times photographer Ken Hively meet for their 35th annual backpacking trip, this time along John Muir Trail, starting at Lower Pine Lake, which is north of Bishop, Calif. Journey with them as they trek through this stretch of the Sierra Nevada. For more...

Looking to get away? From domestic to international, budget to luxurious, family-friendly to rugged, we've got dozens of recommendations for 2015, drawn from Los Angeles Times staff, readers and other travel sites.